Germany plans to increase its military forces by more than 100,000 troops in response to perceived threats from Russia, according to Army Chief Alfons Mais. In a confidential document reviewed by Reuters, Mais stated that the German Army must be prepared for potential conflict with Moscow by 2029.
The proposed increase would more than double the size of the German Army. In a statement dated September 2, Mais emphasized the necessity for the army to be adequately ready for war by 2029 and to fulfill Germany"s commitments to NATO by 2035.
This proposal aligns with Germany"s ongoing efforts to bolster its defense commitments in Eastern Europe, including the establishment of a permanent deployment of 5,000 troops in Lithuania. Additionally, Germany is planning to enhance its surveillance capabilities in Poland following incidents involving Russian drones entering Polish airspace.
Germany has not yet achieved its 2018 goal of maintaining 203,000 troops across its military. Earlier this year, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced plans to expand the military to 260,000 personnel.
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